Philip
Sent to a desert road, he found a traveller reading Isaiah and told him about Jesus.
New Testament · 1st century · Acts · Also known as Philip the evangelist, One of the seven
About Philip
Philip was one of the seven men chosen with Stephen to serve the church in Jerusalem. When persecution scattered the believers, he went to Samaria and preached Christ, "and there was great joy in that city." Then an angel sent him to a desert road, where an Ethiopian official was riding home in his chariot, reading Isaiah. "Understandest thou what thou readest?" Philip asked, and beginning from that scripture, "preached unto him Jesus." The man asked to be baptised at once. Years later Paul stayed at Philip’s home in Caesarea, where his four daughters prophesied.
This Philip, "the evangelist," is different from Philip the apostle, one of the Twelve. The Ethiopian was the treasurer of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians (the kingdom of Kush, south of Egypt), so the gospel was reaching the ends of the known world.
The story
Great joy in that city
"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake," and many were healed. "And there was great joy in that city."
Acts 8:5-8
Understandest thou what thou readest?
An angel told Philip to go south to the desert road to Gaza. There an Ethiopian official sat in his chariot reading Isaiah. "Understandest thou what thou readest?" "How can I, except some man should guide me?" The passage was, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter." "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus."
Acts 8:26-35
See, here is water
"See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" They went down into the water, and Philip baptised him. "The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." Philip was found at Azotus, and preached all the way to Caesarea.
Acts 8:36-40
Four daughters
Years later, Paul and his companions "entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy."
Acts 21:8-9
Key moments
- Chosen as one of the seven: With Stephen. (Acts 6:5)
- Preaches in Samaria: "Great joy in that city." (Acts 8:8)
- Sent to the desert road: By an angel. (Acts 8:26)
- Baptises the Ethiopian: "What doth hinder me?" (Acts 8:38)
- Hosts Paul in Caesarea: With his four daughters. (Acts 21:8-9)
Questions about Philip
In meetBible these answers are given in Philip’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
What was the Ethiopian reading?
He was reading Isaiah: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth." He asked me, "of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?" I began at that very scripture "and preached unto him Jesus."
Are you the same Philip as the apostle?
No. Philip the apostle was one of the Twelve, from Bethsaida, who brought Nathanael to Jesus. I’m "Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven," chosen with Stephen to serve the church in Jerusalem. Acts uses that phrase to tell us apart.
Why did you go to a desert road?
"The angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went." I was leaving a city full of joy for an empty road. Then the Spirit said, "Go near, and join thyself to this chariot," and I ran.
Connected people
- Stephen: Fellow servant
- Isaiah: Explained his scroll
- Paul: Hosted him
- Peter: Came to confirm the work in Samaria
Read it yourself
Start with Acts 8.